Yasna 43 — Ushtavaiti Gatha

Homage to you, Gāthās filled with Asha.

43.1. Radiance to that one through whom radiance may come to anyone. May Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grant it. I seek from you enduring life and strength: through Armaiti grant me power to uphold Asha, the splendor of reward, and the life of Vohu Manah. (..) Radiance to that one through whom radiance may come to anyone. May Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grant it. I seek from you enduring life and strength: through Armaiti grant me power to uphold Asha, the splendor of reward, and the life of Vohu Manah.

43.2. And to that person may one grant the best of all—a man’s well-being within well-being. May you teach me, Mazda, through your most life-giving Mainyu, through Asha, the wondrous powers of Vohu Manah, with joy throughout every day of a long life.

43.3. May that man reach what is better than good—the one who teaches us the straight paths of benefit in this embodied existence and in the existence of mind: the true dwellings where Ahura abides, righteous, like you, well-knowing, Spenta Mazda.

43.4. Then shall I recognize you as forceful and life-giving, Mazda, when you hold in those hands the rewards you give to the follower of the Lie and to the follower of Asha—through the heat of your fire, strong with Asha—when the might of Vohu Manah comes to me.

43.5. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when I first saw you at the birth of existence; when you appointed deeds and words to bear their reward—evil reward for evil, good reward for good—through your skill, at creation’s final turning.

43.6. At that turning where you come with Spenta Mainyu, Mazda, with Khshathra and Vohu Manah, there the living world shall prosper through deeds of Asha. For them Armaiti shall proclaim the judgments of your wisdom, which no one can deceive.

43.7. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when Vohu Manah came around me and asked me: “Who are you? Whose are you? By what sign will you mark the days for questioning, concerning your herds and your own person?”

43.8. Then first I said to him: “I am Zarathushtra. So far as I am able, a true enemy to the follower of the Lie, but to the follower of Asha I would be a powerful ally, so that I may gain the wishes of Khshathra, as long as I praise and hymn you, Mazda.”

43.9. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when Vohu Manah came around me. To his question, “For whose sake do you wish to discern?” I answered: “For your fire I shall offer the gift of reverence to Asha, as long as I am able and keep it in mind.”

43.10. Then show me Asha, which I invoke. Accompanied by Armaiti, ask us what must be asked concerning those of your company. For what is asked of you by the mighty must be asked with power, when one who rules through you can make the furious powerless.

43.11. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when Vohu Manah came around me—when I was first instructed by your words. My trust among mortals brought me suffering, yet I shall do what you told me is best.

43.12. And when you tell me, “You have come to know Asha,” then do not command me with words unheard: rise before Obedience comes to me, accompanied by reward rich in splendor—the reward that shall distribute benefit among the contending sides.

43.13. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when Vohu Manah came around me, so that I might discern the goal of desire. Give me that long span of life which no one has dared ask of you—the chosen existence declared within your Khshathra.

43.14. As a knowing man gives to a friend who seeks it, so give me, Mazda, your sustaining insight: through your Khshathra, the power arising from Asha, so that I may rise and go forth with the leaders of your proclamation, together with all who remember your sacred words.

43.15. Then I recognized you as life-giving, Mazda Ahura, when Vohu Manah came around me. The best insight taught me in silence: “Let no man seek to satisfy the many followers of the Lie.” For they count all followers of Asha as enemies.

43.16. Therefore Zarathushtra chooses that Mainyu, Ahura Mazda, which is yours and most life-giving. May embodied Asha be strong with enduring life; may Armaiti dwell in Khshathra, radiant as the sun; may she grant reward through deeds joined with Vohu Manah.

43.17. Radiance to that one through whom radiance may come to anyone. May Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grant it. I seek from you enduring life and strength: through Armaiti grant me power to uphold Asha, the splendor of reward, and the life of Vohu Manah. (..) Radiance to that one through whom radiance may come to anyone. May Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grant it. I seek from you enduring life and strength: through Armaiti grant me power to uphold Asha, the splendor of reward, and the life of Vohu Manah. Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance belongs to the one whose Asha is for best Asha. (..) Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance belongs to the one whose Asha is for best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. Radiance is; radiance belongs to the one whose Asha is for best Asha. We worship the third chapter of the Ushtavaiti. Whose among beings Ahura Mazda knows as good in worship by virtue of Asha—these, both male and female, we worship.

Homage to you, righteous Gāthās.

43.1. Radiant happiness comes to the one through whom Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grants radiant happiness to anyone at all. I desire strength from you, together with enduring vitality. Grant me this, Ārmaiti: to uphold Asha, the rich rewards, and a life of Good Mind. (Repeat:) Radiant happiness comes to the one through whom Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grants radiant happiness to anyone at all. I desire strength from you, together with enduring vitality. Grant me this, Ārmaiti: to uphold Asha, the rich rewards, and a life of Good Mind.

43.2. And may that person receive the best of all things. As a man seeking well-being, may he give us well-being. I recognize you, Mazda, as Bountiful through the most bountiful Spirit, since through Asha you give the wonders of Good Mind for all the days of a long life filled with joy.

43.3. May that man reach what is better than good—the one who teaches us the straight paths of benefit for this embodied and mental existence, the true paths where Ahura dwells: a devoted one like you, well known, Bountiful Mazda.

43.4. Then I will recognize you as powerful and bountiful, Mazda, when the hands with which you hold these rewards bring both to the deceitful and to the follower of Asha what is due through the heat of your fire, strong through Asha, when the force of Good Mind comes to me.

43.5. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when I first saw you at the birth of existence, when you established that deeds and words would bear a reward: evil for the evil and a good reward for the good, through your skill at the final turning point of creation.

43.6. At that turning point, when you come with the Bountiful Spirit, Mazda, with Dominion and Good Mind, the living creatures will prosper through Asha by the deeds of that Spirit. Ārmaiti will announce the judgments for them—judgments of your wisdom, which no one can deceive.

43.7. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when Good Mind came around me and asked me: “Who are you, and to whom do you belong? By what sign will you distinguish the days for questioning concerning your possessions and your own self?”

43.8. Then I first said to him: “I am Zaraϑuštra. As far as I can, I will be a true enemy to the deceitful, but to the follower of Asha I will be a powerful support. I want to gain the full powers of Dominion, for as long as I praise and celebrate you, Mazda.”

43.9. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when Good Mind came around me. When he asked, “For whose sake do you wish to discern this?” I answered, “As long as I am able to think, I will show reverence for your fire, the gift of Asha.”

43.10. So show me Asha, which I continually invoke. Accompanied by Ārmaiti, ask us what we have come here to ask you, for a question put to you is like the question of the powerful, since one ruling through you can make the violent person powerless.

43.11. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when Good Mind came around me. When I first learned through your words, my trust among mortals brought me hardship. Yet I will carry out what you told me is best.

43.12. And when you tell me, “You have come to Asha for discernment,” then do not command me to rise before Obedience comes to me, accompanied by a richly rewarding recompense that will distribute the rewards among the contending sides.

43.13. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when Good Mind came around me so that I might understand the aim of my desire. Grant me that aim: the long life that no one has dared you to deny, the desirable existence said to be within your Dominion.

43.14. As a knowing man gives a friend what he seeks, give me, Mazda, the discerning support that comes from you. Through your Dominion and in accordance with Asha, I will rise to oppose the harms of your teaching, together with all those who remember your sacred words.

43.15. I recognized you as bountiful, Mazda Ahura, when Good Mind came around me. The best insight silently taught me to discern: “Do not let a crowd of men seek to satisfy the deceitful.” For they regard all the followers of Asha as enemies.

43.16. And so, Ahura Mazda, Zaraϑuštra chooses that Spirit of yours which is most bountiful of all. May Asha be embodied and strong with vitality. May Ārmaiti be within the radiant Dominion. Through her deeds, may she grant the reward by Good Mind.

43.17. Radiant happiness comes to the one through whom Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grants radiant happiness to anyone at all. I desire strength from you, together with enduring vitality. Grant me this, Ārmaiti: to uphold Asha, the rich rewards, and a life of Good Mind. (Repeat:) Radiant happiness comes to the one through whom Ahura Mazda, ruling at will, grants radiant happiness to anyone at all. I desire strength from you, together with enduring vitality. Grant me this, Ārmaiti: to uphold Asha, the rich rewards, and a life of Good Mind. Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness comes to the one who embodies Asha for the sake of the best Asha. (Repeat:) Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness comes to the one who embodies Asha for the sake of the best Asha. Asha is good; it is best. Radiant happiness is, radiant happiness comes to the one who embodies Asha for the sake of the best Asha. We worship the Uštavaiti, the third chapter. Ahura Mazda knows, through Asha, whose worship among existing beings is good. We worship those men and women.